Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Turkish art, particularly the art of music, has historically been regarded not merely as a form of entertainment but as one of the main pillars of aesthetic thought, identity formation, and cultural continuity. Owing to this cultural function of music, different Turkic groups have succeeded not only in creating their own distinctive musical traditions but also in transmitting overarching Turkic cultural codes from generation to generation. For this reason, the systematic study and preservation of traditional music is of strategic importance for the entire Turkic world.

These remarks were made by Professor Erhan Özden, Rector of Ankara Music and Fine Arts University, during his speech at the 1st International Symposium on Traditional Music and Cultural Identity of the Turkic World.

In his address, he emphasized that Turkic peoples have historically attached great value to artistic creativity, particularly to the art of music. He stated that music is not only an artistic field but also a key carrier of the identity shaped by the Turkish nation over centuries. Despite the dispersion of Turkic communities across different geographic regions, their shared musical sensibility and the reflection of “Turkish consciousness” in music have played an important role in preserving cultural unity.

Professor Erhan Özden noted that the symposium provides an opportunity for the scholarly discussion of the cultural heritage of Turkic peoples, adding that such events guide future research on their shared artistic legacy.

He expressed his gratitude to the Institute of Folklore of ANAS and to everyone who contributed to the organization of the event, expressing confidence that the symposium will contribute to a deeper study of the musical culture of the Turkic world.

Translation by Gulhane Aghayeva, Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information, Presidium of ANAS.

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